Car dumper



Dec; 1, 1926.-

A. E. NORRIS CAR DUMPER 6 Sheets-Sheet 6' Sheets-Sheet 2 GAR DUMPER A. E. NORRIS Filed March 6v Dec. 7 ,1926.

Dec. 7 1926.

A. E. NORRIS GAR BUM-PER 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 6 Dec. 7 1926.

A. E. NORRIS CAR DUMPER 6 L925 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March Dec. 7,1926. 1,609,420

A. E. NORRIS I CAR BUMPER Filed March 6; 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Z Inveniov: fllmomli'. Normals,

b zr w Patented Dec. 7, 1926.

stares tenant truce.

eater-tr can BUMPER.

Application filed March 6,1925.

This invention relates to a novel car dumper, having simple and effective mechanism for causing the car to be clamped in place for the dumping operation, and for causing the restoration of the mechanism to its normal condition to permit the empty car to be removed from the dumper.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a car dumper exemplifying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same on a reduced scale;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical, sectional view on an enlarged scale on line of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical, sectional view on a still further enlarged scale, illustrating a portion of the clamping mechanism;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5, as viewed from the right-hand side thereof;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 77 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 7, but showing the parts in a different position;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 88 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a. sectional view on an enlarged scale on line 99 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on line 1010 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale on line 1111 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, and to the embodiment of the invention which is selected for exemplification, there is shown a car dum aer com risin a foundation 12 see Fig. 1), which in practice may be made of molded concrete, and provided with one or more hoppers 13 to receive the material discharged from the car. Supported by this foundation is a car-receiving cradle 14, which is mounted to rotate about a longitudinal axis within a car-receiving space 15, as by providing the cradle with a plurality of wheels 16 encompassing the car-receiving space 15, and resting upon supporting wheels 17 arranged in pairs, the wheels of each pair being carried by an equalizer 18.

Serial No. 13,512.

These equalize-rs are fulcrumed on pivots 19 on brackets 20 supported by the sides of the hoppers. Rotation of the cradle from its normal position shown in Fig. 1 to the dumping position is contraclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 1, and its rotative movement in such direction is limited by an appropriate stop 21 (see the upper portion of Fig. l), secured to the large Wheel 16 and carried by rotation of the latter into engagement with the periphery of the wheel 17 at the extreme left-hand side of Fig. 1. The stop may be, and herein is, provided with an arcuate recess 22, whose radius is the same as that of the small wheel 17 which it is to engage.

The cradle carries a car track having rails 23, best shown in Fig. 4, appropriately mounted for transverse movement relatively to the frame work of the cradle, as by being mounted on a platen or platform 24 having wheels 25 rest-ing on a transverse track 26. The platen is guided in its transverse movement, and is attached to the cradle framework by guide rods 27, whose terminal portions extend through and are supported by brackets 28 and 29, which are secured to the cradle framework. One end of each rod is fixedly secured to its bracket 28 by nuts 30 threaded onto the rod on opposite sides of a vertical wall 31 presented by the bracket. The rod extends through I beams 32 and 33, which constitute a part of the framework of the platen, and by this means, the latter is guided in its lateral movements with relation to the framework of the cradle, and is maintained in its proper relationship thereto.

A car 34, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, is placed in posit-ion in the cradle by be ing run onto the rails 23. In the normal position, the car clears both sides of the framework of the cradle, but it may be caused to move laterally against an abutment, herein wooden blocks 35, by virtue of a. lateral movement ofthe car and track under the influence of gravity, assisted by means comprising one or more, herein a plu-' rality of springs 36, shown at the lower portion of Fig. 4, which are normally under compression, and constantly tend to urge the platen and car toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 4. Each of these springs is arranged withone end against the web of the I beam 32, and its other end against a fixed abutment, such as a collar '37, which encircles the rod, and rests against one end of a sleeve 38 which extends through the web of the I beam 83, and through a wall 39 presented by the bracket 29, the remaining end of the sleeve resting against a nut 40 threaded onto the rod. This sleeve slides freely in openings presented by the I beam 33 and wall 39. The degree of compression under which the spring is maintained may be varied by turning the nut 40 in the proper direction.

The tendency of the springs 36 to urge the platen laterally toward the left as viewed in Fig. 4 is normally resisted by appropriate stops now to be described, reference being had to Figs. 2 and 3. The laterally movable platen carries stops, herein plates 41, which normally rest against fixed stops 42 presented by the foundation 12, as clearly shown at the right-hand and lefthand portions of Fig. 2. Of course, if it were not for these stops, the springs 36, one of which is shown in Fig. 4, would be efiective to move the platen laterally and to hold the car against the blocks 35. However, owing to the provision of these stops, when the cradle is being restored to its normal position, and before it reaches such position, the stops 41 engage the stops 42, thereby preventing further movement of the platen, and holding the rails 23 carried by the cradle in alignment with fixed rails 43 supported by the foundation. As a means to cushion the impact of the steps 41 against the stops 42, the stops 41 are resiliently mounted on the cradle, as by loosely bolting them in place on the I beam 33 by bolts 44 and 45 (see Fig. 3), the latter, as shown in Fig. 2 extending entirely through the platen, and being threaded at its end to receive nuts 46 affording an abutment for a spring 47, whose other end rests against the other I beam 32. The strength of this spring is much greater than that of the spring 36 (see Fig. 4), and although one acts against the other, the spring 86 has insufficient strength to move the stop 41 from its normal position in engagement with the web of the I beam 33. The result is that the spring 47 simply yields momentarily to cushion the impact, and then serves to maintain the proper alignment of the rails 23 with the rails 43.

The mechanism for rotating the cradle about its ads will now be described, reference being had particularly to Fig. 2. Each wheel 16 presents two grooves 48 for cradle rotating cables 49, each of which is suitably dead-ended on the cradle. The ropes lead across each other (see Fig. 1), and are wound in opposite directions about a drum 50. Referring again to 2, each of these drums is suitably rotated, as by being pro vided. with a spur gear 51, which meshes with and is driven by a pinion 52 secured to a shaft 53. Also secured to this shaft is a spur gear 54, which meshes with and is driven by a pinion 55, which is secured to a shaft 56. To this shaft is also secured a gear 57, which meshes with and is driven by pinion loosely mounted on the shaft 53. Thispinion is secured to a gear 59, also loosely mounted on the shaft, and meshing with a pinion which secured to the arn'iature shaft of an appropriate reversible motor 61. It follows that rotation of this motor in the proper direction will cause the cradle to be rotated in one direction or the other, according to the direction of rotation of the motor shaft.

The car-clamping instrumentalities will now be described, reference being had at first to Fig. 4. Normally disposed. at a. height greater than that of the highest car are two car clamps 62, which, in the present example, differ somewhat in shape, but in other respects, their construction, operating mechanisms and mode of operation, are identical, and therefore a detailed description of one will SllfilCG for both. Referring to Fig. 11, the car clamp is guided by appropriate guides, herein Z-bars 63 presented by the framework of the cradle, said bars having inwardly directed flanges 64, which are received in grooves 65 presented by the car clamp. and thus affording guidance to the latter in a vertical direction. It follows that the clamp when released at the proper time will descend by gravity, and if a. car is then placed therebeneath, the descent of the clamp will be arrested by the top of the car.

The clamp is carried by the upper end of a bar 66, which is suitably secured thereto as by a pin 67, (see Fig. 11), extending through the bar and through the opposite sides of a yoke 68 presented by the car clamp. Referring now to Fig. 6, to the lower end of this bar is secured a crosshead 69, which, as best shown in Fig. 8, is guided by appropriate guides, herein channel bars 70 presented by the framework of the cradle, and having flanges 71 receiver in grooves 72 presented by the cross-head.

The mechanism for raising and lowering the crosshead will now be described, reference being had at first to 5. A cable 73 has one end appropriately secured as by a clevis 74 and eye-bolt 75 to the cross-head, and to prevent the eye-bolt from turning in the cross-head, due to the tendency of the cable to twist, the eye-bolt in the present example has a square body 76 (see 8) received in the correspondingly shaped opening in the cross-head. The cable leads in an upward direction from the cross-head over a sheave wheel 77, thence in a down ward direction over sheave wheel 78., thence in a horizontal out-ward direction over a sheave wheel 79, thence in an inward horizontal direction over a sheave wheel 80,

- the car clamps on their guides.

thence in a downward direction over a sheave wheel 81 (see Fig. 4), beneath and across the cradle framework to a sheave wheel82, thence in an upwardly inclined direction to and over a sheave wheel 83, and thence in the opposite direction, and it is dead-ended on the framework of the cradle by an eye-bolt 84. The rope for the other clamp is similarly arranged in all respects, except for the fact that it does not extend across and beneath the framework of the cradle. It should be understood, of course, that this arrangement calls for two of the sheave wheels 82 side by site, and likewise two of the sheave wheels 83 side by side.

Referring now to Fig. 9, the sheave wheels 83 are mounted in a cross-head 85, which is mounted to slide on suitable guides, herein angle bars 86 presented by the framework of the cradle, said bars having flanges 87, which are received in openings 88 presented by the cross-head. It is desirable that the cross-head shall have a tendency to remain where it is placed on its guides to keep the cables taut at all times, and to that end, the cross-head carries suitable frictional detent means, herein two pairs of plungers 89 (see Fig. 10), which are urged against the guiding flange 87 by appropriately arranged springs 90.

It .should now be evident that movement of the cross-head 85 on its guides 86 (see Fig. 4) will be accompanied by corresponding movement of the car clamps 62, and that the vertical position of the latter can be determined by controlling the position of the cross-head with reference to its guides. This control is conveniently accomplished by utilizing turning movement of the cradle with reference to its foundation, as by securing to the latter a fixed stop, herein two bars 91, which straddle the cross-head and its guides, and present abutment-s for rollers 92 carried by the cross-head. When the cradle is rotated contraclockwise from its normal position, shown in Fig. 4, the rollers 92 naturally tend to recede from the bars 91, but as the weight of the car clamps is sustained by the cooperative action of the cross-head and the stop, it must be evident that when the cradle turns contraclockwis-e from the position shown in Fig. 4, such movement will be accompanied by descent of the cross-head on its guides, and corresponding descent of This descent of the car clamps will continue until 1: is arrested by their engagement with the car.

hen this position is reached, ascent of the car clamps is prevented by mechanism now to be described, reference being had at first to Fig. 7. This mechanism is in the nature of an automatic clamp, which permits free descent of the car clamp, but is automatically effective to prevent ascent of the latter. Two jaws 93 and 94 are disposed on opposite sides,respectively, of the vertically movable bar 66. In the present instance, the jaw 93 is movable and the jaw 94 is fixed. Herein, the jaws are provided with shoes 95 and 96, which engage opposite sides, respectively, of the vertically movable bar 66. To ensure engagement of the shoe 95 throughout with the side of the bar, said shoe in the present example is in the nature of a rocker, it being formed as a part of a cylinder adapted to be received in a correspondingly shaped recess 97 formed in the jaw 93. By this means, the shoe automatically accommodates itself to varying angular positions of the jaw, and maintains the flatwise engagement of its working face with the side of the bar 66.

The clamping of the bar is accomplished by causing the shoes to be brought firmly in contact with opposite sides of the interposed bar, and any tendency of the latter to rise is resisted by utilizing such tendency to cause a firm clamping action. This is conveniently accomplished by the use of a rocker or cam 98 (see Fig. 6), which is received in a chamber .99 provided in the jaw 94, and is fulcrumed on a pin 100. Suitable connection is made between the shoe and the rocker, whereby movement of one is accompanied by movement of the other, the shoe to this end being provided, with a tooth 101 (see Fig. 6) received in a notch 102 pro vided in the rocker. Herein, the rocker presents a working surface 103, which is concentric with its fulcrum, while the cooperating shoe 96 has a working surface 104, which is inclined with relation to that face of the shoe which engages the adjacent side of the bar 66. This form causes rocking movement of the rocker 98 in an upward direction to be accompanied by inward movement of the shoe 96 toward the bar 66. The shoe is provided at its ends with projections 105, which aid in the exclusion of foreign matter from the contacting surfaces of the shoe and the cam. The entire mechanism is mounted between and supported by upper and lower plates 106, which afford bearings for the rocker 95 and support for the clamps 98 and 94. A spring 107, attached at one end as by an eye-bolt 108 to the framework, has its other end connected by a link 109 to the rocker 98, and has a constant tendency to swing the rocker in a. downward direction,

thus tending to relax the grip of the shoe 96 against the adjacent face of the bar 66.

Referring again to Fig. 7, the jaws are connected to each other by one or more, herein a plurality of bars 110, which are connected to the jaws by pins 111 and 112. These pins terminate in and are supported by the plates 106, which in turn are supported by upper and lower horizontal bars 113 and-.114, forming part of the framework of the cradle.

The jaw actuating mechanism will now be described, reference being had at first to Fig. 7. Swinging movement of the jaw 93 herein is accomplished by the use of a toggle comprising one or more links 115 and one or more links 116, connected to each other by a pivot 117, said links being connected on the one hand to the jaw 93 by a pivot 118, and on the other hand to the jaw 94. by a pivot 119. When, therefore, the toggle is straightened, the jaw 93 is swung on the pin 111 as a fulcrum, and the shoe is carried into gripping engagement with the bar 66, which carries the car clamp. In order that the jaw may besusceptible of a slight movement to compensate for variations in the width of the bar, there is provided yielding means interposed between the link 115 and the jaw 93, comprising a spring 120, which constantly tends to urge the pivot 118 toward the inner end of a slot 121 pre sented by the jaw 93. The length of the slot is such that the pivot 118 never reaches the outer or right-hand end of the slot, as viewed in Fig. 7 By this means, therefore, the setting action or" the jaws is always accomplished through the intervention of the spring, the resistance of which of course becomes greater as the clamping action proceeds.

To the central pivot 117 of the toggle a link 122 is connected by a universal joint 123, and the other end of the link is connected by a like universal joint 12 1 (see 5) to one arm 125 of a lever 126, which is mounted to turn on a fulcrum presented by a pivot 127. The lever has another arm 128, which carries the sheave wheel 7 9, the latter being house-d between two plates 130, one of which presents a movable stop 131 adapted to cooperate with a. fired stop 132, which formsa part of the framework oi": the cradle. The lever has a third arm 133, which is connected by a spring 13 1, and by an eye-bolt 135, to a fixed portion or" the framework. This spring constantly tends to rock the lever clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 5, and thereby tends to straighten the toggle (see Fig. 7), and to cause the shoe 95 to urge the bar 66 against the shoe 96.

Referring now to Fig. 4., it will be observed that in the normal position of the parts therein shown, the movable stop 131 rests against the fixed stop 132, in which position it is held by reason or the tact that the rollers 92 (see the right-hand side. 01? Fig. 1) carried by the cross-rod, rest against the stop 91. Of course, this engagement is normally maintained by the spring 134:, which is constantly exerting an outward pull on the sheave wheel 7 9 carried by the lever 128. When the parts are in this position, the toggle is contracted, the jaw 93 is swung away from the shoe 95, and the shoes 95 and 96 do not grip the interposed bar 66. There fore, under these circumstances, there is nothing to prevent free descent of the car clamp 62 under the influence of gravity, except the fact that its descent is prevented by reason of the engagement of the rollers 92 or the cross-head 85 bythe stops 91. It should here be noted that the strength of the spring 13 1 is insufficient to overcome the weight of the associated car clamp.

The general operation Will now be described, reference being had to 1. As

the loaded car is run onto the rails of the platen, its position being indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the platen rotating mecha nism is started into operation to rotate the car contraclockwise from its normal'position. When this occurs, the. platen springs maintain the platens in fixed position with its movable stops 41 (see Fig. 2) against the fixed stops 12 presented by the foundation. Tnasmuch as the platen and the car are now being held stationary, continued movement oi" the cradle. will result in the blocks 35 (see Fig. 1) being brought against the letthand side of the. car. Of course, the car clamps should not engage the top of the car until the blocks are 1n engagement with the side of the car.

Turning again to the cross-head 85 at the right-hand side of Fig. 4, it must be evident that as the cradle continues to turn, and as the cross-head is subject to the combined pull exerted by the springs 134: and car clamps 62, the rollers 92 ot' the cross-head will remain for the time being in engagement with the stops 91. The result is that the ropes 7 3 will be paid out, and the car clamps thus allowed to descend onto the top of the. car, which is by this time in contact with the blocks. The car clamps can then descend no further, and as a consequence, continued paying out of the cables will permit the springs 13 1 to assert themselves to swing the sheave wheels 79 in outward directions, and to act through the links 122 to extend the toggles actuated thereby to the position shown in Fig. 7, thus causing the 93 to urge the shoe 95 against the bar 66, which carries the car clamp. By this means, the initial grip is furnished to prevent ascent of the car clamps.

In the further rotation of the cradle to its dumping position, the rollers 92 of the cross-head 85 will leave the stops 91 and the cross-head will be maintained in fixed position on its guides 86 by reason of the described friction detent device, because there is now no pull being exerted on the ropes 7 3 by either the car clamps 62 or the springs 1341.

When in the dumping operation of the cradle the car springs are relieved of the weight of the load, the car springs naturally tend to lift the car body with a force equal to the weight of the load which was discharged.

to i

This heavy upward thrust'against the car clamps 62 is exerted through their bars 66 in an upward direction, and, as will be evident from an examination of Fig. 6, the frictional engagement of the bar with the shoe 96 rocks the rocker 98 in an upward direction against the resistance presented by the light spring 107. Though the shoe 96 will travel a short distance in an upward direction, during such travel its gripping engagement with the bar 66 is greatly increased by reason of the rolling action of the working surface 103 against the inclined working surface 104 of the shoe 96. Maximum ascentof the car clamp is predetermined by a stop 136, shown in Figs. 5 and 6, attached to the bar 66 by the bolts 137. This movable stop will engage the underside of a fixed stop presented by an angle bar 138, and will thus prevent any possibility of the car clamp rising beyond the proper limit with relation to its guides.

As the parts move back toward their normal position, represented in Fig. 4, it is evident that the car clamps should be released and allowed to rise and to clear the top of the car by a safe margin before the car is moved from the blocking 35 under the influence of the platen springs 36. This coordination of the movements of the cradle and the clamps is easily accomplished, because of the fact that the rollers 92 carried by the cross-head 85 will reengage the stops 91, .and will commence to act through the cables 7 3 to allow the jaws to relax their grip on the bar 66, and further will allow the ropes to raise the car clamps before the movable stops carried by the platen reengage the fixed stops presented by the foundation. When this position is finally reached, the platen and car are held in fixed position in alignment with the fixed rails 43, and continued movement of the cradle to its initial position results in the blocks 35 receding from the now stationary car, which can then be run out of the cradle.

Having thus described one embodiment of the invention, but without limiting. myself thereto, what I claim and desire by Letters Patent to secure is;

1. In a car dumper, the combination of a car-cradle presenting a car receiving space, a lateral car-stop at one side thereof and vertical car-clamp guides, a platen presenting a car-track mounted on said car-cradle to move laterally toward and from said car stop, a founc ation presenting a fixed cartrack and stops to predetermine the position of said movable car-track relatively to said fixed car-track, yielding means tending to move said movable car-track and the car thereon toward said'lateral car-stop, cradlerotat-ing means to rotate said car-cradle and to carry said movable car-track out of and into alignment with said fixed car-track,

ca'r clamping means including car-clamps guided by-said car-clamp guides and adapted to gravitate along said guides into engagement with the car, vertical bars carried vertically by said car-clamps, shoes adapted to engage opposite sides of said bars, swinging jaws which carry said shoes, toggles which actuate said jaws to carry said shoes toward and from said bars, clamp elevating and lowering cables having one set of ends attached to said bars and their other ends dead-ended on said car-cradle, toggle-actuating levers connected to said toggles, sheave wheels carried by said levers and engaging said cables, yielding means connected to said levers and tending to cause said levers to actuate said toggles to swing said jaws and to carry said shoes into engagement with the sides of said bars.

2. In a car dumper, the combination of a cradle, car-clamping means including a car clamp adapted to gravitate onto the car, cradle-rotating means, means consequent upon rotation of said cradle to permit said clamp to descend upon the car during rotation of said cradle from its normal position and to prevent said clamp from releasing said car, and means to utilize the thrust of the car springs as they are relieved of their load to increase the holding power of said clamp.

3. In a car dumper, the combination of a cradle, a track carried byvsaid cradle, carclamping means to clamp a car onto said track, said car-clamping means including a car clamp which clamps the car and another clamp which in turn clamps said car clamp, and means to utilize the thrust of the car springs as they are relieved of their load to increase the holding power of the secondmentioned clamp.

4. In a car dumper, the combination of a cradle, a track carried by said cradle,'and car-clamping instrumentalities including a car-clamp, means to cause said car clamp to gravitate onto the car, means initially to resist ascent of said car clamp, and means to utilize any rising tendency of said car'clamp to present greater resistance to its ascent.

5. In a car dumper, the combination of a cradle, a track carried by said cradle, and car-clamping instrumentalities including a car clamp, means to utilize turning movement of said cradle to cause said car clamp to descend by gravity onto the car,.and means 6. In a car dumper, the combination of a cradle, a track carried by said cradle, and car clamping instrumentalities including a pair of carclamps, means to utilize gravity to set said car clamps, and means permitting descent of said car clamps and automatically limiting their ascent, the last-mentioned means including clamp-sustaining cables and means operated by movement of said cradle to take up and pay out said cables.

7 In a car dumper, the combination of a cradle, a track carried by said cradle, and car clamping instrumentalities including a pair of car clamps, means to utilize gravity to set said car clamps, and frictional means having provision to permit descent of said car clamps and to utilize any rising tendency or said clamps to resist such tendency.

8. In a car dumper, the combination of a cradle, a support, means to move said cradle with relation to said support, and car-clamping instrumentalities including a car clamp, a mounting for said car-clamp permitting the latter to gravitate onto the car, means including a clamp-sustaining cable cooperating with said support normally to hold said clamp elevated and utilizing movement of said cradle from its normal position with re lation to said support to permit descent of said clamp, a second clamp for clamping said car clamp, and an automatic take-up for said cable connected to said second clamp to actuate the latter.

9. In a car dumper, the combination of a cradle, a support, means to move said cradle with relation to said support, and car-clamping instrumentalities including a car clamp, a mounting for said car-clamp permitting the latter to gravitate onto the car, means including a clamp-sustaining cable cooperating with said support normally to hold said clamp elevated and utilizing movement of said cradle from its normal position with relation to said support to permit descent of said clamp, and means operated by said cable to prevent ascent of said clamp.

10. In a car dumper, the combination of a cradle, a support, means to move said cradle with relation to said support, and carclamp ing instrumentalities including a car clamp,

a mounting for said car-clamp permitting the latter to gravitate onto the car, means cooperating with said support normally to hold said clamp elevated and utilizing movement of said cradle from its normal position with relation to said support to permit descent of said clamp, and means to utilize any rising tendency of said clamp to resist such tendency.

11. In a car dumper, the combination of a cradle, a support, means to move said cradle with relation to said support, and car-clamping instrumentalities including a car clamp, a mounting for said car-clamp permitting the latter to gravitate onto the car, means cooperating with said support normally to hold said clamp elevated and utilizing movement of said cradle from its normal position with relation to said support to permit descent of said clamp, and means including co operating parts on said cradle and on said support normally to hold said clamp elevated and utilizing movement of said cradle from its normal position with relation to said support to cause said part carried by said cradle to move relatively to said cradle and to allow said clamp to descend.

12. In a car dumper, the combination of a cradle, a support, means to move said cradle vith relation to said support, and car-clamping instrumentalities including a car clamp, a mounting for said car-clamp permitting the latter to gravitate onto the car, means including cooperating parts on said cradle and on said support normally to hold said clamp elevated and utilizing movement of said cradle from its normal position with relation to said support to cause said part carried by said cradle to move relatively to said cradle and to allow said clamp to descend, and means carried by said part on said cradle tending to resist movement of such part relatively to said cradle under the influence of said clamp.

18. in a car dumper, the combination of a cradle, car-clamping means including a car clamp adapted to gravitate onto the car, cradle moving means, and means consequent upon movement of said cradle to permit said clamp to descend upon the car during movement of said cradle from its normal position, and to prevent said clamp from releasing said car, the last-mentioned means including a clamp elevating and lowering cable having one end attached to said clamp and the other dead-ended on said cradle, a sheave wheel engaging said cable, and a device extraneous to said cradle to utilize movement of said cradle to cause said cable to raise and lower said clamp.

14:. In a car dumper, the combination of a cradle, car-clamping means including a car clamp adapted to gravitate onto the car, cradle moving means, and means consequent upon movement of said cradle to permit said clamp to descend upon the car during movement of said cradle from its normal position, and to prevent said clamp from releasing said car, the last-mentioned means including a clamp elevating and lowering cable having one end attached to said clamp and the other dead-ended on said cradle, a sheave wheel engaging said cable, a movable support for said sheave wheel on said cradle, means resisting movement of said support relatively to said cradle, and a device e-Xtraneou to said cradle to utilize movement of said cradle to cause movement of said support relatively to said cradle, thereby to cause said cable to raise and lower said clamp.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ALMON E. NORRIS. 

